the cold

[Ron Simunic]

Good morning.  Looks like another day inside. Any old timers  or more recent railroaders have any good COLD weather stories? What you did , how you did it, any time you couldn't do anything? Pot of coffee is on , and another log on the fire. Thanks, Ron S.

[Pete Pedigo]

With all the slush that preceded the snow and -14 degree temperatures I can't imagine trying to keep switches clear without automatic heaters.  The just in from Chicago .


Amtrak Chicago Area Service Update
More Service Modifications for Tuesday, Jan. 7
Jan. 6, 2014
9:00 p.m. CT
(Additional Illinois Cancellations)
Deteriorating conditions on freight railroad-owned routes used by Amtrak have led to additional cancelations to and from the Chicago area on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Passengers with travel plans in the region are urged to confirm their train's status using a range of tools – including Amtrak.com, smartphone apps and 800-USA-RAIL.

The following Chicago Hub Services will not be available on Tuesday, Jan.7:

• Lincoln Service Trains 300, 301, 302, 303, 304 & 305 are canceled.
(Trains 306 & 307 are the only scheduled trains on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor)

• Hiawatha Service Trains 329, 332, 333, 336, 337 & 340 are canceled.
(Trains 330, 331, 334, 335, 338, 339, 341 & 342 will maintain service on the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor)

• Wolverine Service Trains 352 & 353 are canceled.
(Trains 350, 351, 354 & 355 will maintain service on the Chicago-Ann Arbor-Detroit-Pontiac corridor)

• Illinois Zephyr & Carl Sandburg Trains 380, 381, 382 & 383 are canceled.

• Saluki Trains 390, 391 & 392 are canceled.
(Trains 393 is the only scheduled train on the Chicago-Carbondale corridor)

• Hoosier State Train 851 is canceled.

[David Longest]

How do freights fare in this cold, ice, snow?  About the same?  Therefore production is slowed while commodities reaching stores also slowed?   

Deep Southern Indiana that is, the New Albany area did not get the snow, but the cold is certainly bitter.  Unlike the late seventies (1978 & 79), the foercast looks good and thawing/melting looks promising.  Those two school years we missed 20-22 school days and were not required to make them up.  Those snows were followed by cold lasting a while and melting simply did not occur. 

I had a unique experience those years; teaching spelling on WNAS (New Albany's FM radio station/first in the U.S.) to an audience which may have been a few hundred or as low as zero.  Other teachers taught other su[not allowed]ects with same potential audience.  We did suggest extra credit for those who turned in their work, but there was no teeth in such an offering. 

We are trying to empathize with those north of Indy.  Best to you!

David

[Rick Dreistadt]

Fellows, like any other job which has to function in cold weather, everything slows down.  On freight trains, it's necessary to cut the length of the train down so the locomotive can pump enough air pressure to the rear for their brakes to function properly and, by law there can only be a certain amount of air leakage between the loco and the rear car.   And of course, in extreme cold weather, every air leak, no matter how small, is magnified.  When the temps drop quickly as they did this past week, broken rails are a hazard.  On the Monon, during heavy snow, a section man would sometimes ride with a train to sweep snow from any switches that needed thrown.  In switching yards, the railroad cars won't roll very well, especially on humps,auto racks especially tend to hang up before getting into their assigned tracks.  This is just a small sample of weather related problems.  I'm sure Ron could name many more.
Rick

[Tom Pinnick]

Back in February, 1965 I flew into Louisville from Norfolk at the tail end of a significant snowstorm. There was about 8 to 12 inches of heavy wet snow on the ground. I rode up to Bedford on #6. It was about 1/2 hour late as I remember, but it ran. As I remember, back in the day, the passenger trains seldom were annulled.

[Rick Dreistadt]

  That 8-12 inches of heavy snow wouldn't be nearly as much a problem that several feet of drifted snow would be.  And those rounded noses on the F-units did a good job of plowing the snow anyway.
Rick

[Ron Marquardt]

Yes, and the angle cock in front of the pilot was a problem with the C628's.  Every time you'd hit a snow drift, the snow would lift up the handle and open the valve, and the train would go into emergency.  Then you'd have to dig down to it, close it and wire it shut, and go again until you came to the next big snow drift.  One trip on #73 we were in emergency a half dozen time between Shops and McDoel.  / Ron

[Gene Remaly]

I worked with an old steam fireman who told of putting a quart fruit jar of coffee between the valves and pipes on the back head.
I would think there was also a place for a can of soup for a hot meal.